Group presses Army on Makua

Community group Malama Makua says the Army is moving too slowly to expand cultural access to native Hawaiian sites at Makua Military Reservation, and is asking the federal court to step in.

Earthjustice filed papers in U.S. District Court yesterday. Judge Susan Oki Mollway has yet to schedule a hearing.

Malama Makua sued the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army in December 2000 to force the government to complete an environmental impact statement before resuming live-fire exercises in Makua Valley.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks, the two sides reached a settlement that allowed the Army to resume limited training in the valley and gave the government three years to complete the EIS.

Lava flow reaches subdivision

There is no threat to property since there are only two homes in the whole 3-mile-long subdivision, which lies about 25 miles south of Hilo.

The new finger of relatively slow-moving lava extended about 250 yards yesterday into Royal Gardens, and will miss the closest of the two homes by two subdivision blocks if it continues, Patrick said.

The observatory obtained the information in a helicopter overflight yesterday, Patrick said.

Funds released for Kohala library

HILO » A new $7.8 million public library for the North Kohala District of the Big Island will be four times larger than the present Bond Memorial Library in the district, Gov. Linda Lingle said.

Lingle announced Tuesday that she has released the final $5.8 million needed for construction. Two previous allotments totaled $2 million.

Construction of the 6,000-square-foot building is scheduled to start in August and be completed in February 2010. To be located next to the Kohala Elementary and High schools, the building will incorporate energy-saving features, Lingle said.

Aid available for teacher training

Pacific Resources for Education and Learning is accepting applications until April 1 for its annual Pacific Teacher Scholarships.

The nonprofit corporation works in partnership with the Pacific educational community to increase the number of qualified teachers working in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific, and provides professional development.

Scholarships, ranging from $750 to $1,000, are awarded to students who will be in their second, third and fourth year of study in an accredited teacher preparation program.

Applicants must reside in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau and intend to teach in a public school in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific, a release said.

HONOLULU

Victim's kin grab alleged fondler

Police said that the suspect went into an apartment early Tuesday via an unlocked door. Police said the homeowner, a 23-year-old man, was home and that the suspect fled.

The suspect allegedly entered another apartment moments later via an unlocked door and fondled a 48-year-old woman sleeping on a couch. Police said she awakened and the suspect fled.

Police said the suspect then went into a third apartment through another unlocked door and fondled a 20-year-old woman sleeping on her bed. The woman awakened and alerted family members who chased the suspect out of the apartment, caught him and held him for police. He was arrested on suspicion of unauthorized entry into a dwelling, two counts of first-degree burglary and two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault.

LEEWARD OAHU

Man, 50, claims son-in-law hit him

Police arrested a 29-year-old man who allegedly punched his father-in-law in the face.

Police said the incident happened Monday at a Nanakuli home at about 8 a.m. Police were called to Hawaii Medical Center where a 50-year-old man told officers that his son-in-law punched him in the face several times during an argument.

The suspect was at the residence and arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault.

Arguer accused of striking woman

A 37-year-old man was arrested after allegedly hitting a woman sitting in her car.

At about 9:20 Tuesday night, the suspect was arguing with the victim's son at their Makakilo home. The victim's son left the house and she got into her car to find him.

Police said the suspect became upset and struck the 56-year-old woman while she was seated in her car. Police arrested the suspect on suspicion of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

Shutterbug robbed at crowbar-point

Police are looking for two men who allegedly took camera gear from a man in Waianae.

At about 1:45 p.m. Monday, the suspects confronted a 41-year-old man taking pictures at Makaha beach, police said. One of the suspects brandished a crowbar and allegedly demanded the man's camera, lens and case.

Police said the suspects took the gear and fled. There were no injuries. The suspects were described as in their 30s and 40s, and had a 2-foot-long crowbar.